JP2003513380A - A system for identifying personal items such as clothes, accessories, or portable devices - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] An identification tag (2) is attached to a personal property (3) such as clothes, accessories or a portable device, and the tag (2) is a storage means (11) for recording an assigned individual code. ) And transmission means (12) for transmitting a signal representing the individual code. The portable detection device (4) permits the operation of the transmitting means (12), sends an inquiry signal to the tag (2), represents an individual code in response to the inquiry signal, and transmits the tag (2). A permission means (16) for receiving a signal transmitted from the means (12) is provided. By using the detected individual code as an e-mail box address on a dedicated Internet website, it is possible to contact the holder of the tag (2). Accordingly, a method is provided in which strangers can easily and effectively establish a human relationship while ensuring anonymity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a system for identifying personal items such as clothes, accessories, or a portable device, and strangers who have met by chance have a relationship with each other for a while while keeping their identities secret. Is for building. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a system for building relationships over time.

[0002] As is well known, for many people, especially those with an introverted personality, to build emotional relationships with strangers who happen to meet and are interested. It is difficult to get closer to it. The same applies to the general extroverts, who fear their future implications by fearing that they will make a false impression. .

The problem is further complicated, especially in a developed society, by not generally trusting strangers who may have been considered as invaders or simply offensive. . In addition, in the case of a job that pursues excessive profits, business transactions and relationships with customers are effective and profitable in proportion to maintaining anonymity and not having an emotional relationship. As a result, personal isolation is promoted because of business transactions and relationships with customers.

[0004] The problem with building relationships between strangers is probably the reason why Internet websites have had tremendous success. On websites, strangers keep anonymity and contact by email to exchange some personal information. This continues until you build trust and credibility "far away," so that the people involved gradually reveal themselves and meet personally. In the opposite case, the email connection may be interrupted at any time if interest is lost during the development of the relationship.

There are public buildings with stations where customers can contact electronically so that strangers can build relationships with each other. A station is provided in each table, and a message can be sent from another table by using, for example, the table number as an address. Therefore, a message can be sent to the interested person, and the message can be displayed on the station to make an initial contact. However, such a system can only be used within a building where the people involved can be identified by visually recognizable codes.

In addition, it is generally impossible to encounter a stranger who happens to meet by chance and whose personal details and especially the email address is unknown. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for identifying personal items, which can establish an anonymity while establishing a personal relationship with a holder of personal items for a certain period of time.

According to the present invention, there is provided an identification system for identifying personal items such as clothes, accessories, or portable devices. The identification system comprises an identification tag that can be attached to personal items and a portable detection device that is separate from the identification tag.
The identification tag, a storage means for recording an individual code associated with the identification tag,
And a transmitting means for transmitting a signal representing the individual code. The detection device comprises receiving means for representing the individual code and for extracting the signal transmitted from the transmitting means.

Accordingly, it is possible to establish a relationship with a holder of personal property for a certain period of time while ensuring anonymity, and therefore to provide a method of safely and effectively establishing a relationship with a person for a certain period of time. Providing an identification system for personal items.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an identification system 1 includes an identification tag 2 that can be attached to a personal item 3 such as clothes, accessories, or a portable device, and a tag. And a portable detection device 4 which is separate from 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the tag 2 is attached to the pants 3 so that it can be recognized using known methods, and the detection device 4 is integrated with a known cell phone 5. However, the detection device 4 may be housed in any other portable device, in any general box, and may have no other functions (key ring, accessories, etc.).
.

The bill 2 may have any shape and size, and the bill 2 is made of an appropriate material. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the tag 2 comprises a thin plate 6, which is rigid (for example made of plastic or metal) or flexible (for example leather, textile or polymeric material). And two surfaces 7 and 8 facing each other. The thin plate 6 has a base 9 for accommodating an information device 10 (for example, a well-known microchip) having a storage means 11 and a transmission means 12 associated with the storage means 11. The storage means 11 records the individual code assigned to the bill 2, and the transmitting means 12 generates an individual code signal as described later.

In one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 9 is dead and has a front opening 13 formed in the surface 7 of the lamella 6 from which the base 9 extends. The information device 10 is inserted into the inside. Further, the information device 10 is held inside the base portion 9 by closing the front opening 13 by a label 14 such as an adhesive label attached to the surface 7 (in this case, the information device 10 is connected to the base portion 9). It may be adhered to the surface of the label 14 on the opposite side).

The bill 2 is attached to the personal item 3 by a known method, but the attaching method differs depending on the type of the personal item 3 to be attached. Particularly, suitable fixing means 15 (for example, a through hole provided in the thin plate 6) may be provided, and the tag 2 may be sewn or adhered to the personal property 3. The tag 2 may be attached to the personal item 3 with the surface 7 attached to the surface of the personal item 3 and the opposite surface 8 exposed, or vice versa. The exposed surface 7 or 8 may also represent commercial information, images and / or other desired elements.

The detection device 4 is provided with a permitting means 16 for permitting the operation of the transmitting means 12 provided in the tag 2 and for being activated by an operation button 17 such as a dedicated key provided in the cell phone 5, for example. . The permission means 16 sends an inquiry signal to the tag 2 and
Responsive to the inquiry signal, it represents the individual code of the tag 2 and the associated storage means 1
The signal transmitted from the transmitting means 12 based on the information recorded in 1 is received.

The transmitting means 12 transmits the signal representing the individual code of the bill 2 only in response to the inquiry signal generated from the permitting means 16 of the detecting device 4. When the inquiry signal is not transmitted, the operation of the transmitting means 12 is not permitted and the signal is not transmitted. For example, the transmitting means 12 comprises a well-known passive transponder (not shown in detail for the sake of brevity) which is well known to be activated by the permitting means 16.
Is a type of generating an inquiry signal in a predetermined direction 18. For example, permission means 1
6 may be a means (of any known type) for transmitting radio frequency signals or infrared signals.

The detection device 4 further includes a well-known display means 19 configured to display an individual code and configured by, for example, a display device of the cell phone 5. The identification system 1 operates as follows. When the holder of the detection device 4 encounters the holder of the tag 2, the detection device 4 is directed to the person's tag 2 and, at the same time, the operation button 17 is pressed in the direction of the tag 2 to activate the permitting means 16. By the inquiry signal generated by the permitting means 16, the transmitting means 1 of the tag 2 in response to the inquiry signal.
2 is permitted to be activated, and a signal is transmitted which represents the individual code assigned to the bill 2 and recorded in the storage means 11. The signal representing the individual code of the tag 2 is received by the detection device 4 and displayed on the display device 19.

Even in the presence of a large number of tags 2 and thus a large number of different transmission means 12, the detection device 4 receives only the signal corresponding to the desired tag 2. In the present invention, the transmitting means 12 of the tag 2 generates the code signal only in response to the inquiry signal of the detecting device 4, and the inquiry signal is transmitted in the predetermined direction, which is desirable. It is directed only toward the bill 2. Therefore,
The detection device 4 receives only the actuation response signal transmitted from the tag to which the inquiry signal is directed. The individual code may be of any type, such as a sequence of alphanumeric characters (such as MI-510-AB, which may include letters indicating the city where the tag 2 was purchased). There are various methods of contacting the holder of the tag 2 using the individual code, but all of them must ensure the anonymity of the holder. For example, when purchasing the tag 2 (that is, the personal property 3 to which the tag 2 is attached), if the purchaser is given an individual code, he / she can directly access it by using a dedicated internet website. Possible email boxes are assigned (with approval of the purchaser, of course). Call the website (detected by chance)
By entering the personalized code, the email message will be sent to the interested person and your own personalized code will be left for reply. Recipients who connect to the same Internet website can read the message and decide whether to reply anonymously. That is, unlike direct sending to the actual personal email address, all communications are managed by a common service while ensuring the anonymity of each recipient. , And whether to send a reply to the received message.

In addition, unidentifiable information about the user of each service (physical appearance, personality,
Interests, constellations, etc.) may be looked up and recorded on an information card via a dedicated internet website prior to the message being sent.

That is, the detection device 4 remembers the individual code of the inquired person in order to come into contact with a person who owns the personal property 3 to which the tag 2 of the present invention is attached by chance. Then, the detected individual code is used as an E-mail box address on a dedicated Internet website.

The individual code and the corresponding email box are assigned when the personal item 3 with the tag 2 attached is purchased (and associated information cards are collected) and the detection device 4 (for example in the form of an accessory). If provided, or if the detection device 4 forms part of a relatively expensive device such as a cell phone 5, it is assigned when the detection device 4 is purchased. In the latter case, the tag 2 is mounted in the same device that houses the detection device 4.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and effectively establish a human relationship between strangers while ensuring anonymity. The tag 2 is, for example, clothes, a bag or a rucksack, accessories such as glasses,
It may be attached to any personal item 3, such as a cell phone, and does not necessarily have to be visually recognizable. Even without knowing whether the interested person is actually holding the tag 2, the detection device 4 is activated towards that person. If the person has no item with tag 2, no individual code is detected. The tag 2 may be mounted inside the personal property 3, for example, inside the cell phone 5, in which case the tag 2
And the detection device 4 are provided together.

When the detection device 4 is integrated with the cell phone 5, once the individual code of the interested person is detected, if the cell phone 5 designed to access the Internet is used, The advantage is that you can be contacted by email.

The individual code assigned to the tag 2 may be an e-mail address (for example, a designated box on a dedicated internet website) instead of characters, in which case the holder of the detection device 4 The holder of the tag 2 can be contacted by sending an email message to that address. The individual code may be a telephone number, in which case the holder of the detection device 4 may call the telephone number or send a text message (SMS).

As another embodiment, the transmitting means 12 of the tag 2 is the permitting means 16 of the detecting device 4.
The activation does not have to be permitted by the inquiry signal transmitted by the, and the signal representing the individual code assigned to the tag 2 may be transmitted continuously. In this case, the detection device 4 has a receiving means for receiving the individual code signal transmitted from the transmitting means 12.

In another embodiment, the information device 10 including, for example, a well-known microprocessor is further associated with the storage means 11 and processes the inquiry signal transmitted from the detection device 4 to store the information. And processing means 21 for comparing with the series of parameters recorded in. If the inquiry signal processed by the processing means 21 of the information device 10 is compatible with the parameters stored in the tag 2, the operation of the transmission means 12 is permitted. For example, the parameters recorded in the storage means 11 represent the personal information (physical appearance, personality, etc.) of the holder of the tag 2 stored together with (or as part of) the individual code when the tag 2 was purchased. May be. Thus, the inquiry signal transmitted by the detection device 4 carries various information regarding the characteristics of the person to whom the holder of the detection device 4 wishes to contact, which inquiry signal is received, processed and contained in the storage means 11. It is compared with the personal information provided. If there is a match (ie, the person information the holder of the detection device 4 is looking for matches the information of the holder of the tag 2), the information device 10 allows the transmission means 12 to send a response signal, Otherwise, the actuation of the transmission means is not permitted.

As another embodiment, the inquiry signal transmitted from the detection device 4 may be received by a plurality of tags 2 instead of one direction, and the inquiry signal is directed to a specific person with whom the detection device 4 wants to contact. Instead, it is actuated towards the group to determine if the group holds relevant person information. Information regarding the characteristics of the person to be contacted is input to the detection device 4 at the time of purchase or at a later date, for example, via a dedicated Internet website.

This embodiment is particularly suitable when the tag 2 is applied to a cell phone 5 equipped with a detection device 4, the card 2 of the actual cell phone 5 (permit / actuation card, “sim.
Used as a card ”).

The detection device 4 preferably comprises two separate operating buttons 17 which allow the identification system 1 to carry out two different operating modes (the inquiry signal is automatically transmitted by the transmitting means). Twelve actuations, or represent personal information you are looking for).

The identification system 1 may preferably be applied to a wrist watch in which a cell phone is integrated, if possible, and a particularly small so-called palm top in which the function of the cell phone is integrated if possible. May be applied to a portable computer of the type. In this case, the detection device 4 incorporating the bill 2 and the palmtop computer (whether the bill 2 can be visually recognized or not) is connected to the processor so that the memory and processing of the palmtop computer itself are performed. Use means.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the tag 2 includes a well-known, for example, vibration, voice, or visual indicating means 22 (as an example only, FIG. 2 shows a means 22 for emitting light). Is connected to the transmitting means 12 of the bill 2 and transmits a well-known instruction signal to notify the user that the transmitting means 12 has received the inquiry signal. Therefore, the inquiry signal transmitted by the detection device 4 activates both the transmitting means 12 and the indicating means 22 simultaneously.

In yet another embodiment (not shown), the permission means 16 includes the operation button 1
Instead of 7, it may be activated by a known sensor mounted on the detection device 4 so as to detect a physiological parameter. For example, when the detection device 4 constitutes a wristwatch or a part of a jewel that is in direct contact with the skin, the contact of the sensor with the skin may preferably be associated with the user's heartbeat (or other emotional state of the user). Parameter) may be detected. Further, when a predetermined change in the observed parameter is detected (for example, the heart rate increases due to the user meeting a person with whom the user wants to contact), the sensor automatically activates the permitting means 16 to transmit the inquiry signal. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an identification system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

2 is an enlarged detail view of the system of FIG.

[Procedure for Amendment] Submission for translation of Article 34 Amendment of Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] October 24, 2001 (2001.10.24)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

[Claims]

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG , ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, C N, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, EE, ES , FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, K R, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV , MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, S I, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA , UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An identification system for identifying personal items such as clothes, accessories, or a portable device, which is an identification tag (2) that can be attached to the personal item and is separated from the identification tag (2). And a storage unit (11) for recording an individual code associated with the identification tag (2), and a signal representing the individual code. And a receiving means (20) for representing the individual code and for extracting a signal transmitted from the transmitting means (12). Identification system characterized by. 2. The detection device (4) further comprises a permitting means (16) for permitting the operation of the transmitting means (12), the permitting means (16) being associated with the receiving means (20). An identification signal (2) is transmitted to the identification tag (2), the signal representing the individual code and receiving the signal transmitted from the transmission means (12) in response to the inquiry signal. Identification system. 3. The transmission means (12) is a permission means () for the detection device (4).
Identification system according to claim 2, characterized in that the signal representative of the individual code is transmitted only in response to the inquiry signal generated from 16). 4. The identification system according to claim 3, wherein the permission unit (16) generates the inquiry signal in a predetermined direction. 5. An identification system according to claim 4, characterized in that said transmitting means (12) comprises a passive transponder activated by said permitting means (16). 6. The identification system according to claim 2, wherein the permission unit (16) is a unit for transmitting a radio frequency signal or an infrared signal. 7. The tag (2) is further associated with the storage means (11) to process an inquiry signal transmitted from the detection device (4) and to store the storage means (1).
1) includes a processing means (21) for comparing with a set of parameters recorded in 1), the processing means (21) being adapted to determine that the inquiry signal is compatible with the parameters recorded in the storage means (11). Identification system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the transmitting means (12) is activated only when the criteria are met. 8. The tag (2) further comprises an instruction means for transmitting an instruction signal in response to an inquiry signal transmitted by the detection device (4), the inquiry signal being transmitted by the transmission means (12) and the The operating means and the indicating means are operated at the same time.
7. The identification system according to any one of 7. 9. The individual code according to claim 1, wherein the individual code is associated with an e-mail box that can be accessed through a dedicated internet website. Identification system. 10. The identification system according to claim 1, wherein the detection device (4) further comprises display means (19) for displaying the individual code. 11. The identification system according to claim 1, wherein the detection device (4) is integrated with a cellphone (5). 12. The cell phone (5) is provided with a dedicated operation button (17) for activating the permitting means (16) and a display (19) for displaying the individual code. Item 11. The identification system according to Item 11. 13. The identification system according to claim 1, wherein the personal belongings are clothes. 14. The identification system according to claim 1, wherein the personal property is a cell phone (5) including the detection device (4) and the tag (2). . 15. A system for establishing a personal relationship between individuals with a certain period of time, the identification tag (2) attached to personal items such as clothes, accessories, or a portable device, and a portable detection device ( 4) and the tag (2) is the tag (
The detecting device (1) is provided with a storage means (11) for recording the individual code assigned to 2) and a transmitting means (12) for transmitting a signal representing the individual code.
4) A system characterized in that it comprises receiving means (20) representing the individual code and receiving a signal transmitted from the transmitting means (12). 16. The detecting device (4) further comprises a permitting means (16) for permitting the operation of the transmitting means (12), the permitting means (16) comprising the receiving means (2).
0) to send an inquiry signal to the tag (2) and receive the signal representing the individual code and transmitted from the transmitting means (12) in response to the inquiry signal. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein 17. The system of claim 15 or 16, wherein the personalized code is associated with an email box accessible via a dedicated internet website.